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large attachment is a glossary that someone asked about.
--
Ron Vetter 1936, 1984 PD dz ... "money is coined liberty" ... Dostoevsky
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~rfvetter
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Acetylcholine: A chemical messenger released by cholinergic nerves. Norma=
lly in many parts of the body, including the brain, and necessary to norm=
al body functioning. There appears to be a reciprocal seesaw relationship=
 between acetylcholine and dopamine and their respective nerve cell syste=
ms.

Action Tremor: Rhythmic, involuntary movement of a limb when movement is =
initiated, e.g., when writing or lifting a cup. Not usually seen in the e=
arlier stages of Parkinson=92s.

Adrenaline (epinephrine): The neurotransmitter of the adrenal gland which=
 is secreted in moments of crisis. It stimulates the heart to beat faster=
 and work harder, increases the flow of blood to the muscles, causes an i=
ncreased alertness of mind, and produces other changes to prepare the bod=
y to meet an emergency.

Agonist: A chemical or drug that mimics neurotransmitter activity.

Akinesia: Absence of body movements.

Alpha-Tocopherol: Chemical name for biologically active form of Vitamin E.

Amantadine: A drug which stimulates the release of available dopamine in =
the brain.

Anticholinergic: Adjective applied to a substance (medication) that reduc=
es the action of acetylcholine.

Anticholinergic Drugs (Artane, Cogentin): The group of drugs which decrea=
ses the action of acetylcholine. The specified drugs may help reduce rigi=
dity, tremor, and drooling in Parkinson=92s.

Antihistamines: Drugs opposing the actions of histamine; commonly used to=
 treat allergies. Used in the past for Parkinson=92s as they sometimes ha=
d beneficial effects on symptoms due to their anticholinergic properties.

Apomorphine: A derivative of morphine and a dopamine agonist. Currently e=
xperimentally used as injectable treatment for severe Parkinson=92s.

Ataxia: Loss of balance

Athetosis: Dyskinesias in which there are slow, repetitive, sinuous invol=
untary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System: The branch of the nervous system that controls =
internal organs in the body, i.e., heart, lungs.

Basal Ganglia or Nuclei: Deeper structures in the brain, concerned with n=
ormal movement and walking. The caudate nucleus, putamen and Substantia N=
igra are basal ganglia affected in Parkinson=92s.

Benign Essential Tremor: A condition characterised by tremor of the hands=
, head, voice, and sometimes other parts of the body. Essential tremor of=
ten runs in families and is sometimes called familial tremor. It is somet=
imes mistaken for a symptom of Parkinson=92s . However, this is an action=
 tremor and there is no rigidity or bradykinesia.

Beta-Blockers (=DF-Blockers): Drugs which block the action of epinephrine=
 at certain sites. Usually used to treat hypertension and heart disease, =
they may be effective in the treatment of benign essential tremor.

Bilateral: Occurring on both sides of the body.

Blepharospasm: Spasmodic blinking or involuntary closing of the eye lids;=
 a type of dystonia.

Bradykinesia: Slowing down of a movement. Bradykinesia involves slowness =
of initiating and executing movements and fine motor movements and diffic=
ulty in performing repetitive movements. It is a major symptom of Parkins=
on=92s.

Carbidopa: The ingredient in Sinemet which prevents the breakdown of the =
levodopa in the body before it can reach the brain.

Central Nervous System (CNS): Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebellum: Part of the brain that is involved in coordination.
Cerebral Cortex: The largest part of the brain; responsible for thought, =
reasoning, memory, sensation, voluntary movement.

Choline: A naturally occurring substance which is a precursor of acetylch=
oline.

Chorea: A type of dyskinesia (abnormal movement), characterised by contin=
uing, rapid, dance-like movements. May result from high doses of levodopa=
 and/or long term levodopa therapy.

Choreoathetosis: A dyskinesia characterised by choreic and athetoid movem=
ents.

Cogwheel Rigidity: Stiffness in the muscles, with a jerky quality when ar=
m and leg joints are repeatedly moved.

Constipation: Diminished ability of intestinal muscles to move feces (sto=
ol), often resulting in very hard stool. A common problem in Parkinson=92=
s.

Deprenyl: (Eldepryl, Selegiline, Jumex) A drug that slows the breakdown o=
f chemicals like dopamine by inhibiting the action of certain enzymes. It=
 increase effects of dopamine in the brain.

Dopa Decarboxylase Inhibitors: Drugs that block the conversion of levodop=
a to dopamine outside the brain.These include carbidopa and benserazide.=20

Dopamine: A chemical produced by the brain; it assists in the effective t=
ransmission of electrochemical messages from one nerve cell to the next. =
It is deficient in the basal ganglia and Substantia Nigra of a person wit=
h Parkinson=92s. It governs actions of movement, balance and walking.

Dopamine Agonist: Drugs that mimic the effects of dopamine and stimulate =
the dopamine receptors.

Dopaminergic: An adjective used to describe a chemical, a drug, or a drug=
 effect related to dopamine.

Drug Holiday: A 3 to 14 day withdrawal of a drug  after long term treatme=
nt.

Drug Induced Parkinsonism: Parkinson=92s symptoms which have been caused =
by drugs used to treat other conditions, e.g., neuroleptic drugs, and res=
erpine, used to be used to treat hypertension

Dysarthria: Speech difficulties caused when the muscles associated with s=
peech are affected.

Dyskinesia: Abnormal movement of voluntary muscles. Dystonia, athetosis, =
and chorea are types of dyskinesia.

Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing.

Dystonia: Involuntary spasms of muscle contraction that cause abnormal mo=
vements and postures. May appear as a side effect of long term drug treat=
ment in Parkinson=92s and may worsen in response to stress.

Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus infecti=
on.

Encephalitis Lethargica: (Sleeping Sickness) A specific kind of encephali=
tis which occurred in scattered epidemics throughout the world during the=
 period 1916 to 1926; it usually caused sleepiness, double vision, troubl=
e swallowing, and drooling. Many of those affected developed advanced Par=
kinsonism as depicted in the movie =93Awakenings=94.

Ethopropazine: (Parsidol/Parsitan) A drug sometimes used in the past for =
Parkinson=92s due to its anticholinergic effects.

Extrapyramidal Nervous System: Refers to the caudate, putamen, and Substa=
ntia Nigra. It is affected in Parkinson=92s.

Festination: Walking in rapid, short, shuffling steps.

Flexion: A bent, curved posture.

Freezing: Temporary, involuntary inability to move.

Glaucoma: A sustained increase of pressure within the eyeball which can i=
njure the optic nerve and cause impaired vision or blindness. Treatment w=
ith anticholinergics may exacerbate glaucoma.

Globus pallidus: The inner part of the lenticular nucleus. The lenticular=
 nucleus and the caudate nucleus form the Striatum.

Heimlich Manoeuvre: A form of first aid for people who are choking.

Hypokinesia: Abnormally diminished motor activity.

Idiopathic: An adjective meaning =93of unknown cause=94. The usual form o=
f Parkinson=92s is idiopathic Parkinson=92s.

Intention Tremor: One occurring when the person attempts voluntary moveme=
nt.

Lenticular nucleus: This group of cells along with the caudate nucleus fo=
rm the Striatum or Corpus Striatum.

Levodopa: The international generic name for the medicinal formulation of=
 L-Dopa. It is contained in Sinemet and Prolopa.

Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesias: A side effect of medication which may occur=
 with prolonged use. These abnormal, involuntary movements may be allevia=
ted by reducing the amount of medication.

Lewy Body: Pink, staining spheres on damaged brain cells: markers for Par=
kinson=92s.

Livido Reticularis: A purplish or bluish mottling of the skin seen usuall=
y below the knee and sometimes on the forearm in persons under treatment =
with the drug amantadine (Symmetrel).

Micrographia: The tendency to have very small handwriting due to difficul=
ty with fine motor movements in Parkinson=92s.

MPTP: A toxic chemical, exposure to which can lead to Parkinson=92s.

Myoclonus: Jerking, involuntary movement of arms and legs, usually occurr=
ing during sleep.

Neostriatum: Vital part of the brain comprised of two basal ganglia (caud=
ate and putamen).

Neuroleptic Drugs: (Also called major tranquilizers) A class of drugs whi=
ch act as dopamine antagonists (by blocking some dopamine receptors). The=
y can aggravate symptoms of Parkinson=92s. This class includes Haloperido=
l (Haldol), and the phenothiazines, e.g., Compazine, Stelazine, Chlorprom=
azine, etc.

Neuron: A nerve cell.

Neurotransmitter: A specialised chemical produced in nerve cells that per=
mits the transmission of information between nerve cells .

Nigrostriatal Degeneration: Degeneration of the nerve pathways from Subst=
antia Nigra to the striatum. These pathways are normally rich in dopamine=
 and are those affected in PS.

Norepinephrine (Noradrenalin): Chemical transmitter found mainly in two a=
reas of the brain involved in governing the involuntary autonomic nervous=
 system.

On-Off Fluctuations: Fluctuations that occur in response to levodopa ther=
apy in which the person=92s mobility changes suddenly and unpredictably f=
rom a good response (on) to a poor response (off).

Orthostatic Hypotension: A drop in blood pressure during rapid changes in=
 body position (e.g., from sitting to standing).

Palilalia: A symptom of Parkinsonism, especially the postencephalitic for=
m, in which a word or syllable is repeated and the flow of speech is inte=
rrupted.

Pallidectomy: Excision or destruction of the Globus Pallidus, which is pa=
rt of the Lenticular Nucleus, which is part of the Striatum.

Paraesthesia: Sensations, usually unpleasant, arising spontaneously in a =
limb or other part of the body, variously experienced as =93pins and need=
les=94 or a feeling of warmth or coldness (thermal paresthesias).

Parkinson=92s Disease: That form of Parkinsonism originally described by =
James Parkinson=94 as a chronic, slowly progressive disease of the nervou=
s system characterised clinically by the combination of tremor, rigidity,=
 bradykinesia, and stooped posture, and pathologically by loss of the pig=
mented nerve cells of the Substantia Nigra in the brain.

Parkinson=92s Facies: A stolid masklike expression of the face, with infr=
equent blinking; it is characteristic of Parkinson=92s.

Parkinsonism: A clinical state characterised by tremor, rigidity, bradyki=
nesia, stooped posture, and shuffling gait. The more common causes of Par=
kinsonism are Parkinson=92s Disease, striatonigral degeneration, and a re=
versible syndrome induced by major tranquillising drugs.

Paralysis agitans: The Latin form of the older, popular term =93shaking p=
alsy=94, which was used to designate Parkinson=92s in James Parkinson=92s=
 time.

Parlodel (Bromocriptine): A dopamine agonist useful in treating all of th=
e primary symptoms of Parkinson=92s. It may be used alone or with other a=
ntiparkinson medications.

Permax (Pergolide): A drug similar in action to Parlodel but more potent.

Postural Deformity: Stooped posture.

Postural Instability: Difficulty with balance.

Postural Tremor: Tremor that increases when hands are stretched out in fr=
ont.

Precursor: Something that precedes, e.g., a sign or symptom that forewarn=
s of another, such as muscle aching may be the precursor of a tremor.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP): A degenerative brain disorder somet=
imes difficult to distinguish from Parkinson=92s especially in the early =
stages. PSP symptoms are rigidity and akinesia, difficulty looking up and=
 down, speech and balance problems. Those with PSP often have poor respon=
se to antiparkinson medications.

Prolopa: Trade name for the antiparkinson drug composed of levodopa and b=
enserazide. This drug combination contains a ratio of 4 mg. of levodopa t=
o 1 mg. of benserazide (Prolopa 50-12.5, 100-25, 200-50).

Propulsive Gait: Disturbance of gait typical of Parkinsonism in which, du=
ring walking, steps become faster and faster with progressively shorter s=
teps that pass from a walking to a running pace and may precipitate falli=
ng forward.

Range of Motion: The extent that a joint will move from being fully strai=
ghtened to completely bent.

Receptor: A sensory nerve ending that responds to a stimulus.

Resting Tremor: Shaking that occurs in a relaxed and supported limb.

Retropulsive Gait: Walking that is propelled backwards.

Rigidity: Refers in medical usage to a type of muscular stiffness encount=
ered when examining people with Parkinson=92s. It is characterised by a c=
onstant, even resistance to passive manipulation of the limbs.

Seborrhoea: Increased discharge of the oily secretion sebum from the seba=
ceous glands of the skin.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin sometimes associated wit=
h seborrhoea.

Shaking Palsy: Old popular term which James Parkinson employed to designa=
te the specific disorder we now call Parkinson=92s.

Shy-Drager Syndrome: This is a condition in which the symptoms are the re=
sult of abnormalities in motor function and problems in the autonomic ner=
vous system. A person with Shy-Drager Syndrome has Parkinsonism, extremel=
y low blood pressure which worsens upon standing, bladder problems, sever=
e constipation, and decreased sweating. This condition is quite rare.

Sialorrhea: Drooling of saliva.

Side Effect: A drug=92s effect that is different from the beneficial effe=
ct for which the drug is being taken.

Sinemet: Trade name for the antiparkinson drug that is a mixture of levod=
opa and carbidopa. This drug combination contains a ratio of levodopa 4 m=
g. or 10 mg. to carbidopa 1 mg. (Sinemet 100/25, Sinemet 250/25).

Sinemet CR: Controlled-release Sinemet. 200 mg. Levodopa with 50 mg. Carb=
idopa in a capsule contained in a matrix (outer layer) releasing the drug=
 more slowly in the body. These capsules are not to be taken all at once,=
 but rather in separate doses over the course of a day.

Stereotactic Surgery: Surgical technique that involves placing a small el=
ectrode in an area of the brain to destroy a tiny amount of brain tissue.

Striatonigral Degeneration: This is a degeneration of the nerve pathways =
travelling from the striatum to the Substantia Nigra. People with this de=
generation also appear to have Parkinsonism. However, they respond differ=
ently to drug therapy than people with Parkinson=92s.

Striatum: Area of brain controlling movement, balance, and walking. Conne=
cts to and receives impulses from Substantia Nigra.
Substantia Nigra: Black pigmented area of the midbrain where cells manufa=
cture the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Sustention or Postural Tremor: Tremor that increases when hands are stret=
ched out in front.

Symmetrel (Amantadine): A drug that releases dopamine and is useful in PS.

Tardive Dyskinesia: This is a movement disorder associated with long-term=
 use of neuroleptic drugs such as Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Loxapine, =
etc. Movements of a person with tardive dyskinesia are similar in appeara=
nce to those of a person with levodopa induced dyskinesias, but the cause=
s of the two conditions are different.

Thalamotomy: Operation in which a small region of the thalamus is destroy=
ed, achieved by stereotactic techniques. Tremor and rigidity in Parkinson=
ism and other conditions may be relieved by thalamotomy.

Thalamus: Anatomical term designating a mass of grey matter centrally pla=
ced deep in the brain near its base and serving as a major relay station =
for impulses travelling from the spinal cord and cerebellum to the cerebr=
al cortex.

Toxin: A poisonous substance.

Tremor: Rhythmic shaking and involuntary movement of part(s) of the body =
as a result of sequential muscle contractions.

Unilateral: Occurring on one side of the body. Parkinson=92s symptoms usu=
ally begin unilaterally.

Vomiting Center: Term referring to an area of the brain where the nausea =
and vomiting reflex may be triggered by some medications.

=93Wearing Off=94 Phenomenon: Waning of the effect of the last dose of le=
vodopa, associated with abrupt reduction or loss of mobility.

Modified from the glossary published by The Parkinson=92s Society of Sout=
hern Alberta
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